Read Online Twisted River by Siobhan MacDonald - Free Book Online

think of something. She always did. She was competent. Resourceful.
    â€œJess and Elliot? They shouldn’t have to see you like this. What did you tell them?”
    â€œThat I was attacked by a drunk on the subway.”
    Elizabeth shook her head.
    â€œAnd Oscar?” she said eventually. “He was happy to send you in to work like that?”
    Hazel didn’t answer straight away.
    â€œNo. No, he wasn’t. In fact, he wasn’t happy about me going in at all.”
    â€œI’ll bet he wasn’t,” spat Elizabeth. “Damned sure, I’ll bet he wasn’t.”
    Hazel gritted her teeth, desperately trying to stay in command of the tears that wanted to come.
    â€œI can’t show him how upset I am.” Her voice came out all quavery and sticking in her throat.
    Elizabeth looked at her. Stern. Somber faced.
    â€œAnd how is Oscar now?” She twisted the paper napkin into an ever tighter screw.
    â€œWorried,” answered Hazel. “Not mad anymore. Just worried, you know.”
    â€œWorried . . .” repeated Elizabeth. “Worried,” she said again, and this time Hazel could see the curl of her lip.
    Usually, she appreciated Elizabeth’s advice, her forthright nature, but today she just wanted her to listen, not to scrabble about for a solution. Hazel would find one in her own time. She stretched her arms behind her head, lifting the weight of her hair to cool the back of her neck. The dead heat and stickiness of the day were oppressive. The air-conditioning in the diner needed to be turned up.
    â€œOkay, then.” Elizabeth pursed her lips. “If you’re not going to the authorities, I think you should at least go to counseling.”
    Hazel fidgeted with her rings, twisting her large solitaire diamond round and round.
    â€œMaybe. We’ll see . . . yeah, I’ll think about it.”
    â€œGood.” Elizabeth squeezed out a small smile.
    â€œAnd now tell me, how’s the man in
your
life?” Hazel asked, tired of being the focus of the conversation.
    â€œHe’s doing just great, thanks. Way busier since he became VP.” A genuine smile this time.
    â€œI’ve got to hand it to you, Elizabeth—you lucked out there. Zack is one of the good guys.”
    Mouth full, Elizabeth nodded her agreement.
    Hazel steered the conversation away from herself by inquiring about Zack’s publishing company and what was happening with the big conglomerates. As she spoke, little thought bubbles were floating about her head. Much as it pained her to admit it, perhaps Oscar was right. Maybe she should have stayed in that world, but it was all a bit late for regrets now. She’d burned her bridges there.
    â€œYou’re looking good, Elizabeth. Toned.”
    The capped sleeve of Elizabeth’s printed jersey dress showed lithe arms that had seen a workout.
    â€œStill hangin’ in there. Still going to the dance studio. I miss the fun we had.” She looked up from her pancake. “You didn’t need to leave, you know.”
    â€œLet’s not go there, Elizabeth,” Hazel said with a grimace. “Ancient history.”
    â€œI’m only saying . . .”
    â€œWell, don’t.”
    For the remainder of the conversation, they chatted about Zack and Elizabeth’s new apartment on the Upper East Side, steering away from anything contentious.
    â€œYours?” asked Elizabeth, as they got up to leave.
    She’d spotted something on the floor between Hazel’s chair and the booth behind.
    â€œGood Lord, how did that get there?” Hazel could have sworn she’d put the journal back in her bag before Elizabeth had arrived. Elizabeth was bending down to pick up the leather-bound book with its gold lettering.
    â€œStill keeping a journal after all these years?” Elizabeth looked amused.
    â€œTherapy, Elizabeth. Therapy after a crazy day up at the zoo. It